The last thing in the world I want to be is a “Bad Santa.”

With that in mind, I’m off on Christmas Day. So I’m making sure to get “U mad, bro?” posted a day earlier than normal because the holiday falls on a Thursday this year.

And I know that between DK Metcalf’s two-game suspension, NFL officiating, some Steelers’ play calling, and on-ice struggles for the Penguins, there are plenty of lumps of coal to hand out on Christmas Eve.

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Skip has a thought on Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf going after a fan in Detroit.

Skip, are you suggesting that Metcalf should pull an Antonio Brown and hide out in Dubai for a while to avoid his suspension?

Sounds like a good plan to me.

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Kevin has a thought about what Metcalf did too.

“I don’t think (George) Pickens would have taken it that far like DK did.”

Of course not, Kevin. Pickens would’ve been too busy fighting an opposing defensive back during the game to fight a fan on the sideline.

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Rich in Evans City wants to learn me up on journalism n’at. He is scolding me about abbreviating “offensive pass interference” to “OPI.”

“As a writer, you should introduce your use of new acronyms to the reader (OPI). I have the time to read it. I would prefer you spelled it out like the old-time sports writers did.”

Rich, “OPI” is not a “new” acronym. Also, I spelled out “offensive pass interference” before using “OPI” in all three stories I posted following the Steelers-Lions game Monday morning.

So I don’t know what you are complaining about. My guess is you are just reacting to “OPI” being in one of the headlines.

Well, it’s a headline. It has to be short. Using abbreviations in headlines is a different standard.

I “prefer” you actually read the entire story like “old time” readers did before firing off a complaint after simply glancing at the headline.

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More sports

• After Steelers coach Mike Tomlin pledges support, DK Metcalf’s 2-game suspension upheld
• Tim Benz’s Steelers stocking stuffers: DK Metcalf ‘whataboutism,’ T.J. Watt’s murky status, resting if Ravens lose
• 3 Steelers named to Pro Bowl roster, including 1st-timer Ben Skowronek
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“Dylangreen2122” has a thought about who might trip up the Steelers if they get to the playoffs.

“The only thing I worry about is facing better coaches in the playoffs. It seems we struggle when we go against superior coaching or coordinators.”

Looking back, Dylan, in 2017, the Steelers lost a home playoff game to the Jacksonville Jaguars with Doug Marrone as the head coach and Nathaniel Hackett as the offensive coordinator.

In 2020, the Steelers lost a home playoff game to the Cleveland Browns with a special teams coach (Mike Priefer) substituting for covid-infected Kevin Stefanski.

The Steelers can lose a playoff game any time, anywhere, to anyone imaginable. Superior coaching on the other sideline is not necessary.

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RXN128 was tired of all the “short of the sticks” passes by the Steelers on third down in the first half of the game in Detroit.

Agreed. Short of all four sticks is even worse than the last two.

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Steve thought I took him a little too literally during last week’s “U mad, bro?” He complained about some Penguins’ struggles, including Sidney Crosby’s failure to break Mario Lemieux’s scoring record at home last week before heading up to Canada.

“Wow, you took that a little more seriously than it was intended to be. Jeez. Can I suggest decaf? You obviously read into things what you want.”

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Steve, if I missed the sarcasm on your part, I apologize. Please consider last week’s post retracted. If I misinterpreted it, then please tell me how it was intended.

But on the decaf front, nah. That’s never gonna happen. I hate decaf.

I did, however, watch the Scooters Coffee Frisco Bowl on Wednesday night between Ohio and UNLV. That put me right to sleep.

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Finally, KZ emailed about that controversial final play of the Steelers-Lions game Sunday.

“Two defenders stopped the receiver and drove him backwards 5 yards before he lateraled the ball. How was his forward progress not considered stopped when he was driven 5 yards backwards, and he was in the grasp of two defenders?”

I agree, KZ. Forward progress should have been blown dead. The officials are paralyzed by fear to the extent that they often forget to blow a whistle to end a play these days. They are petrified to be wrong. So they just let the play continue and wait for a review to make the final call.

There has to be an end to a play. There has to be an initial call. And if it needs a correction, then correct it.

But, please, end the play with a whistle for crying out loud. Otherwise, it’s officiating cowardice.

Ironically, when did the zebras finally blow a whistle on that play? When Jared Goff was in mid-air, leaping into the end zone.

What good does it do at that point?

Wait, now I’m mad! This is supposed to be about you being mad.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

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Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network host this week’s hockey podcast